$2.50 cover price. Marvel.
"With Great Power"
Story by Bill Jemas and Brian Michael Bendis
Script by Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils by Mark Bagley
Inks by Art Thibert and Dan Panosian
Colors by JC
Letters by Richard Starking and Comicraft's Troy Peteri
Assistand Editor Lara Castle
Editor Ralph Macchio
Editor in Chief Joe Quesada
Summary: Norman Osborn tries to recreate the experiment that created a super-powered person - on himself. Meanwhile Peter as Spider-Man, finds he can make some cash to help out Aunt May and Uncle Ben. Walking home, Peter fails to stop a man who robs a Deli, even when pleaded to do so by the deli owner. At home, Uncle Ben wants an explanation for falling grades. Peter says he has different priorities, but is afraid to tell them what they are. Peter sleeps over at a school friend's place and the next day is found there by Uncle Ben. Again Peter is afraid to confide in Ben as Ben tries to explain that great things will happen to Peter, and great responsibility will come with it. Peter runs away, and finally goes home only to find....
My Comments: The story is strong. Very much Stan Lee's story updated and personalized for today. Bagely's art is good. A different style than he drew in the past, but still top quality.
If you are not up to date with the story, the back of the front cover gives a recap of the story thus far. The story pulls you and has lots of twists and turns. A number of short two to four page scenes. Maybe Bendis is listed as "script" because the story is most written like a movie script. There are a number of cinematic "zoom in and zoom outs". Zoom out to see a wide angle view of Osborn's trashed lab. Zoom in to see the expression on people's faces in the wrestling crowd.
The art is very good. The very bright color on sort of a plastic page continues with the cinematic look. Very bright and eye catching. The color is so heavy some of the pencil and ink details get lost, but that's noticeable only to us old time readers of comics. I understand the style they are shooting for.
On the business side, the bottom line is demographics (high school and college age folks), and getting those demographics to part with their cash for a book. How to do that? What will those high school and college age folks part with money for? The answer is movies. So why not make the comic book like a movie?
